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3w ago

New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Flip the Pyramid to Prioritize Protein and Whole Foods

Confusion over terms plus cost pressures complicate uptake.

Eating foods that you can identify in their natural form is healthier than foods that have been processed. 
Emmanuel Castillo adds ribs to the smoker at Cedar Creek High School's Meat the Creek team booth at the High School BBQ Inc. State Championship at Dell Diamond last year. More protein, including meat, is encouraged in the new food pyramid. 
The Trump administration has unveiled a new food pyramid, which stresses protein and whole foods and calls for an end to "the war on saturated fat." Image courtesy of USDA

Overview

  • The 2025–2030 guidance replaces MyPlate with an inverted pyramid that elevates protein, healthy fats, vegetables and fruits while pushing ultra-processed foods to the margins.
  • Recommendations include roughly 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day, less than 10 grams of added sugar per meal, under 10% of calories from saturated fat and under 2,300 milligrams of sodium for adults.
  • The materials highlight whole foods and note whole dairy and cooking fats like olive oil, butter or beef tallow, even as nutrition experts caution that this can conflict with limits on saturated fat.
  • Dietitians broadly back cutting highly processed foods but seek clearer definitions and point to mixed messages in the visuals versus the text, including the placement of red meat and whole grains.
  • The guidelines, updated every five years, will shape programs such as school meals and SNAP, as some shoppers say higher-protein choices are hard to afford with current grocery prices.